REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1939, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

“THE ROAD TO RENO.” ■ Au enchanting glimpse of the world’s most popular grand opera is given in Universal’s “The Road to Reno,” which will be shown tonight at the Regent Theatre. Starring Randolph Scott and Hope Hampton, and featuring Glenda Farrell, Helen Broderick, Alan Marshall, and David Oliver, the Him depicts in a gay manner the story of a temperamental grand opera diva who leaves for “the city of broken hearts” to obtain a divorce and goes through a series of tempestuous exploits which wind up with a happy ending in a Reno divorce court. The film opens with Miss Hampton, as “Linda Halliday,” grand opera star, making her farewell performance before going to Reno for the severance of her matrimonial knot. For this performance Miss Hampton, who has been singing opera both in America,, and abroad for the last few years, insisted rhat she should sing a familiar excerpt from grand opera which everyone could enjoy. So she chose the famous Musette waltz from the opera, “La Boheme.” This depicts “Musette” in a gay Parisian boulevard outdoor cafe. She has her aged admirer with her, but her young sweetheart is seated, consumed by jealousy, at a table nearby. While the gay night life of the cafe goes on about her, “Musette” endeavours through her songs to convince her old admirer that she is faithful to him. while at the same time assuring her young sweetheart that money is not everything, and that, eventually, she will return to him. In addition to this solitary operatic aria, Miss Hampton sings three popular songs after her exciting arrival at the dude ranch near Reno, where much of the action takes place.